Secret Victoria Police crime maps show where in Melbourne youth gangs terrorise neighbourhoods

SECRET police maps show Melbourne neighbourhoods near major road and rail lines are being terrorised by youth gangs like Apex. | SEE THE MAPS

Police have warned that criminals move fast.

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SECRET police crime maps reveal Melbourne neighbourhoods near rail corridors and major roads are being terrorised with home invasions and car thefts committed by youth gangs, including Apex.

The explosive documents released under Freedom of Information come as Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton urges Victorians against forming neighbourhood vigilante groups to combat rising crime.

The operational police maps show parts of Melbourne’s southeast were repeatedly hit last year, in­cluding parts of Murrum­beena, Carnegie, Mordialloc, Men­tone and Sandringham. Elsternwick, Chelsea, Highett and Clarinda were also hit hard.

SECRET POLICE MAPS: See how your area is affected (*.pdf)

Police told the Herald Sun the crimes recorded on the confidential maps were aggravated burglary, car theft and stealing from cars, offences commonly committed by “young, networked offenders”.

Southern Metropolitan Region Inspector Bernie Edwards said the documents were used to deploy officers to emerging hot spots on 24-hour patrols.

However, Insp Edwards warned that criminals moved fast.

A snapshot of a heat map for Melbourne’s southeast.

A crime heat map showing Melbourne’s inner suburbs, including Fitzroy and Collingwood.

More detail.

“Once we follow our intelligence and evidence to target particular areas, you can find that offences begin to occur in alternative areas,” he said.

“That’s where we have to keep up with crime trends to best use our resources.

“Our division, like the rest of the state, has experienced a number of burglaries where car keys and luxury vehicles have been stolen. These crimes have often been committed by young, networked offenders.”

The crime hot spots appear to follow the Frankston, Sandringham and Cranbourne/Paken­ham rail lines and some areas were targeted repeatedly last year, prompting day and night police patrols.

Sources told the Herald Sun Apex members and young criminals claiming to be affiliated with the notorious gang were operating in the region. They are becoming more brazen and strike near main roads, which allow a quick getaway.

Two men who allegedly robbed a liquor store while armed with weapons in Clayton South.

South Eastern upper house member David Davis accused the government of failing to keep up with the skyrocketing crime rate, warning that stations were closing their doors to the public in Melbourne.

“Nothing replaces the presence of local police who know their local community, work in the local community and are trusted by the local community,” he said.

Premier Daniel Andrews called on fearful Victorians to not take matters into their own hands after residents in Caroline Springs began patrolling their neighbourhood at night — which is also being hit by a wave of youth crime.

“People need to be very careful that they are obeying the laws themselves,” he told 3AW. “I think there definitely are many Victorians who are uneasy, fearful and challenged that we have seen certain types of crimes rise. We won’t get across these issues unless we acknowledge it.

He said up to 100 arrests had been made since the start of Operation Cosmas in May.

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SECRET POLICE MAPS: See how your area is affected (*.pdf)